Common RP Terminology

The following is a list of the most common terms used in most IMVU Roleplays. This list is liable to change over time depending on new terms being created and used within the community.

RPC: Roleplay CharacterA character in the RP which is controlled by the player.

PlayerThe person behind the computer. May also be called the 'handle' of the character.

OOC: Out of CharacterAnything which is said or done by the human being behind the computer; the player.

IC: In CharacterAnything which is done or said by a character in the roleplay.

DM or GM: Dungeon Master or Game MasterThe person who is in charge of managing the roleplay from an OOC perspective. They more often than not own the room it takes place in, maintain the group page for the RP etc. They are also in charge of settling OOC disputes and maintaining the flow of the game.

Canon RoleplayA roleplay based on original source material which is not the original creation of the DM/GM, e.g a Hogwarts roleplay based on the Harry Potter books.

Multiverse RoleplayMultiple Universe Roleplay. An open RP which is "connected" to every other roleplay in the multiverse in the sense that characters may cross from one RP to another and the games may interact with eachother (for wars between different RP groups, alliances etc.)

Closed RoleplayA roleplay which is outside of the multiverse. The game is completely within in it's own universe and no other seperate RPs are recognized as co-existing within this game.

ERP: Erotic RoleplayRoleplay involving sexual themes.

OC: Original CharacterA character created by the player which is non-Canon.

NPC: Non-Playable CharacterA somewhat disposable or once-off character in the game which serves as "background." Generally controlled by the DM to add to the scene. Examples include villagers, servants and guards.

Meta-gamingThe use of elements outside of the game to twist the direction of the game. A character making use of knowledge that the player has, but the character cannot possibly have.

MixingNot properly dividing IC and OOC. More times than often used when a player becomes upset or angry with another player because their characters had a disagreement. Blurring the lines between reality and fiction.

Para: Paragraph RoleplayA roleplay style where posts are a paragraph in length.